Lotus
by Christina Aguilera
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Nov 13, 2012
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 463 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 318 out of 463
  2. Mixed: 77 out of 463
  3. Negative: 68 out of 463
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  1. someonewhocares
    Dec 13, 2022
    1
    Lotus boasts about a comeback that isn't there at all. What this album needs a self-help book, since Aguilera makes people believe that Lotus can be a audial self-help book of bland pop ballads, whilst also containing some misplaced upbeat tracks that fail to hit the mark of past masterpieces. Bargain bin-worthy is what Aguilera has now become, since any music she's released from now hasLotus boasts about a comeback that isn't there at all. What this album needs a self-help book, since Aguilera makes people believe that Lotus can be a audial self-help book of bland pop ballads, whilst also containing some misplaced upbeat tracks that fail to hit the mark of past masterpieces. Bargain bin-worthy is what Aguilera has now become, since any music she's released from now has failed to be fun, exciting, emotional, or inspiring.… Expand
  2. BWETMatangi
    Aug 7, 2013
    4
    No! It's not that good! Christina needs to go back to Bionic! Christina can do so much better than this. And so can the people she features in the album.
  3. NathanCabello
    Dec 16, 2014
    8
    The pop voice with a great album, actually the best album of her, waiting to see if the next will be able to overcome
    Highlights: Army Of Me and Shut Up
    Lows: Empty Worlds and Sing For Me
  4. JeremySpears
    Mar 17, 2020
    7
    Xtina called "Lotus" a rebirth back in 2012. She had been through quite a bit within the two years since her last album "Bionic". Not only did the underperformance of that album really affect her as it seemed to be a very important project to her and her first album that wasn’t a huge success but she also got divorced from her son's dad after 6 years. Let’s not forget the media scrutinyXtina called "Lotus" a rebirth back in 2012. She had been through quite a bit within the two years since her last album "Bionic". Not only did the underperformance of that album really affect her as it seemed to be a very important project to her and her first album that wasn’t a huge success but she also got divorced from her son's dad after 6 years. Let’s not forget the media scrutiny that she faced during that time for gaining weight and for her highly criticized performance of the National Anthem at the 2011 SuperBowl. The album was supposed to address all of that; "the lotus, the unbreakable flower that withstands the test of time, through the harshest weather conditions or any of the roughest roads, it thrives and it survives.” It had a very strong concept (and a gorgeous album cover by the way). However, the finished result ended up being Xtina‘s safest album since her debut (1999). For this project, Christina adopted the dance pop sound that was popular around that time. The album opens with the intro "Lotus". This intro deserved to be an entire song. It’s one of the best tracks on this album and just sounds extremely epic. An amazing way to start the album. For the first time in her career, she collaborated with pop god Max Martin on the dance pop bops and fan favorites "Your Body" and "Let There Be Love". Both of those songs are extremely fun and sexy and two of the best on this project. "Your Body" even has some dubstep influences here and there. Traces of Xtina‘s magnum opus "Stripped" (2002) can be found in "Army of Me", which is a self-empowerment anthem, which feels like a dance pop version of "Fighter". "Make the World Move", a duet with her fellow The Voice coach CeeLo Green, is another fun dance track that incorporates elements of R&B and soul music but is also a dance pop song overall. "Red Hot Kinda Love" is a sexy carefree bop. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Christina Aguilera album without the ballads. My favorite ballad on this album is "Best of Me". It’s a beautiful song about not letting others knock you down. "Just a Fool", a duet with another fellow The Voice coach Blake Shelton, is a country pop song about a breakup and it’s just as beautiful as "Best of Me". "Light Up the Sky" is another breathtaking, epic ballad/mid-tempo song. The production is a bit bad in some parts though. Those were the highlights of the album but there are also some not so good moments on here. The anti-haters song "Circles" is one big noise. "Around the World" sounds extremely trashy. Three of the album’s ballads "Empty Words", "Sing for Me" and "Blank Page" don’t hurt anyone but they are kinda boring and don’t add anything in my opinion. The closing track of the album "Shut Up" is kiiiinda fun but also messy and a bit trashy. While she pushed boundaries and re-invented herself with her previous three albums "Stripped", "Back to Basics" and "Bionic", it feels like she is chasing trends and trying to do damage control for the underperformance of "Bionic". It does have great messages but it feels like she tried to recreate "Stripped". However, I don’t think this album was as terrible as everyone says it was. It’s a fun, good pop album that has its strengths and its weaknesses. I don’t think Xtina even knows how to make a bad album. Favorites: Lotus Intro, Your Body, Best of Me, Let There Be Love, Light Up the Sky & Make the World Move… Expand
  5. Haandy
    Dec 16, 2020
    10
    De longe é o album mais inferior da Xtina, mas tem seus lados positivos e musicas deliciosas.
  6. LipeFireworks
    Feb 13, 2017
    7
    Melhor album dela desde o back to basics, odeio o bionic, esse album é maravilhoso morto que tem gente que nao gosta, um album que tem Army Of Me, Your Body, Sing For Me nao merece ser chamada de ruim
  7. pauldiam
    Jun 19, 2018
    10
    Don't be fooled by the chart numbers or what the critics say. This album is probably her best. I don't understand why it was not a success, maybe wrong or little promotion? But one thing is certain: "Lotus" is way better than the rubbish Rihanna has been releasing every year, especially the last one. From rock-tinged moves like 'Army of Me' and 'Cease Fire' to old-school flavors such asDon't be fooled by the chart numbers or what the critics say. This album is probably her best. I don't understand why it was not a success, maybe wrong or little promotion? But one thing is certain: "Lotus" is way better than the rubbish Rihanna has been releasing every year, especially the last one. From rock-tinged moves like 'Army of Me' and 'Cease Fire' to old-school flavors such as 'Red Hot Kinda Love' and 'Make the World Move' (featuring Cee-Lo Green), from post-divorce ballads like 'Blank Page' and 'Sing for Me' to fun records such as 'Circles' and 'All around the World' to masterpiece lead single 'Your Body', this album is worth at least a listen. Interestingly, my favorite track is the three-minute long title intro which can be considered as a song itself with its fabolous melody and arrangement.… Expand
  8. AngelAntonio96
    Apr 9, 2018
    10
    Arte en su máxima expresión, una joya. Merecia mas reconocimiento, y no ese amarillo de la critica aqui :/ bueno pero eso no le quita lo magnifico a este album. Mucho mejor que toda la carrera de britney spears
  9. KingdomHeart
    Dec 4, 2013
    7
    Lotus is a great divide in the career of Christina, unlike previous albums he has no set theme, sounds just like it was another album released, however the album opens with an interesting intro, despite being just a intro, ''Lotus Intro'' is one of the best songs on the album, the highlights are also ''Blank Page'', ''Army of Me'', ''Best of Me'' and ''Just A Fool'', the rest is not veryLotus is a great divide in the career of Christina, unlike previous albums he has no set theme, sounds just like it was another album released, however the album opens with an interesting intro, despite being just a intro, ''Lotus Intro'' is one of the best songs on the album, the highlights are also ''Blank Page'', ''Army of Me'', ''Best of Me'' and ''Just A Fool'', the rest is not very surprising, Lotus sounds like something slacker who had no proper job, after all Aguilera can still develop a good job.… Expand
  10. evildevil17
    Jul 3, 2018
    10
    With songs like "Just a Fool" or "Blang Page" Aguilera proved she's the queen of ballads. Yet the album is very catchy, and radio-friendly (listen to "Let There Be Love" or "Around the World"). While it's not Aguilera's best release to date, it's actually an underrated piece full of unsung gems.
  11. Hogdion
    Feb 15, 2019
    7
    For her standards, it's average. However, i can totally see this as someone else's album. It's a good pop record, but the production makes it worse than it is. It also includes some of her worst songs of all time.
  12. leafar0997
    Apr 22, 2013
    7
    Christina is one of the best singers ever without any doubt. Her voice is simply stunning and she is so versatile. So this can be not her best album, that's for sure, but she is amazing
  13. Markosvini
    Mar 26, 2013
    9
    álbum muito bom, com uma gentileza incomparável e uma beleza exuberante, Christina Aguilera mostra todo seu potencial com agudos e batidas que podem não agradar muito a critica, mas vão fazer todos ficarem loucos por essa obra prima da RCA.
  14. vinzlima
    Nov 5, 2015
    5
    no, this is not good. This album would be better if it was released as a book of poetry , because music does not . Sickening beats, look like they were recorded in the backyard . light up the sky , good , but that waste production and such ? I think some producers after they fell christina comes only to plunge it further into misery . Cease Fire one of the too few songs that are worthno, this is not good. This album would be better if it was released as a book of poetry , because music does not . Sickening beats, look like they were recorded in the backyard . light up the sky , good , but that waste production and such ? I think some producers after they fell christina comes only to plunge it further into misery . Cease Fire one of the too few songs that are worth listening only 2 times a week. Thank you Bonnie for let there be love . I hope Christina back to making good music .… Expand
  15. TobiasC9
    Nov 11, 2017
    5
    "Lotus" traz uma sonoridade mais simples, e decepcionou em vários pontos, a grande maioria das letras soam infantis, sua voz está enjoativa, pior álbum dela literalmente, decaiu muito em relação ao "Bionic", seu antecessor muito bem produzido.
  16. ihatextintapig
    Aug 27, 2021
    0
    the only good thing is the intro and your body, of pure recycled garbage and without reinvention, a complete **** = Flop.
  17. popstyle
    Jun 15, 2017
    10
    Xtina se levanta e faz um album que destroi totalmente as pessoas que não gostaram de seu album "Bionic". Após voltar de uma situação complicada ela da uma volta por cima, com letras que mostram seu empodeiramento e que ela não esta para brincadeiras.A primeira faixa do album mostra sua reerguida e de que agora ela se abre o lotus dentro dela. Um conceito mais que incrivel, impecavel, tãoXtina se levanta e faz um album que destroi totalmente as pessoas que não gostaram de seu album "Bionic". Após voltar de uma situação complicada ela da uma volta por cima, com letras que mostram seu empodeiramento e que ela não esta para brincadeiras.A primeira faixa do album mostra sua reerguida e de que agora ela se abre o lotus dentro dela. Um conceito mais que incrivel, impecavel, tão bom que alfinetou a critica e a imprensa que sem reação, deram notas baixas ao album que diz: "Meu nome é Christina Aguilera , e o que falam de mim não é importante". Ela não abre somente seu lotus, mas abre tambem o modo foda-se para todos,… Expand
  18. Recordmania
    Sep 6, 2013
    6
    It's a good album, just not her best. It's definitely not like i taught it will be, when i heard "Blank Page" wich is the first song i heard from the album. I taught it will be so emotional just like "Stripped" while it's full of rowdy dance-pop songs. It's one of her first electro-pop album and it's amazing but i've seen better.
    Album's Highlights: "Blank Page", "Your Body", "Let There    It's a good album, just not her best. It's definitely not like i taught it will be, when i heard "Blank Page" wich is the first song i heard from the album. I taught it will be so emotional just like "Stripped" while it's full of rowdy dance-pop songs. It's one of her first electro-pop album and it's amazing but i've seen better.
    Album's Highlights: "Blank Page", "Your Body", "Let There Be Love", "Army of Me" and Just a Fool"
    Album's Bad songs: "Circles", "Cease Fire" and "All Around the World".    … Expand
  19. TheAxl
    Aug 28, 2020
    10
    She returned to her beginnings as Stripped or Christina Aguilera, but as the critics asking for something new and fresh they put her aside, Your body, omg a great song! That should have had more recognition, Besides, it was a very good album to relax from all the stressful things. HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.
  20. ClaudooSSia
    Jul 9, 2013
    8
    During one of her interviews Christina said, that "Lotus" is "fun, exciting, introspective, it's going to be great". Yes, it's definitely Christina's poppiest album since her debut in 1999. Tracks like "Your Body", "Red Hot Kinda Love", "Let There Be Love" and "Around The World" are the perfect club bangers. There are also some personal, beautiful ballads like "Sing For Me", "Blank Page"During one of her interviews Christina said, that "Lotus" is "fun, exciting, introspective, it's going to be great". Yes, it's definitely Christina's poppiest album since her debut in 1999. Tracks like "Your Body", "Red Hot Kinda Love", "Let There Be Love" and "Around The World" are the perfect club bangers. There are also some personal, beautiful ballads like "Sing For Me", "Blank Page" and "Best Of Me". But "Lotus" is not only pop and R&B album. There's a country heart-breaking ballad "Just A Fool" featuring Blake Shelton, alternative "middle-finger to haters" song "Circles" and (finally) ragga/electronica/R&B/dubstep multigenre masterpiece "Cease Fire". There's a few misfires including chaotic "Make The World Move" and excessively vulgar "Shut Up". Besides that "Lotus" is another solid album in Christina's career.

    8 out of 10    … Collapse
  21. beingryanjude
    Dec 29, 2014
    5
    In the wake of her worldwide flop 'Bionic', Aguilera returns to her impressive vocals and pop superstardom. Unfortunately, nearly every track is filled with attempts at rejuvenating Aguilera's career with a hit single. She should stick with clean, professional pop genius as presented in 'Blank Page.'
  22. joerizkallah
    Sep 12, 2013
    1
    This type of stuff is beneath Christina's wonderful talent and vocals. It all sounds so boring and dull. She has it in her to make stuff ten times better.
  23. dpaniagua
    Nov 19, 2012
    10
    this is one of the best album Christina Aguilera has made since 2006's back to Basics. She has changed her evolution to keep up with all these other auto tuned artists but her vocals stand out from each track.
  24. sakislv
    Nov 4, 2013
    7
    Lotus is honestly a good record. It's not very commercial but it's a big improvement after the disastrous Bionic. Standout tracks include: let there be love, empty words, lotus and blank page. If some songs were cut it would be more cohesive but overall it's a good work.
  25. Hipsteran
    Nov 15, 2012
    7
    Lotus is the album Christina wanted to create but failed in Bionic. Stand out tracks include: Army of Me, Blank Page, Make the World Move and Empty Words
  26. drderu
    Nov 13, 2012
    5
    In the academe of pop music, Christina Aguilera can be considered as the wayward, too-cool-for-school kind. Aguilera would release an album, disappear for several years and comeback with an album completely different from its predecessor which can consequently either make a bold statement or end up washed in the mix. For the most part, each transition marked a certain timeline in herIn the academe of pop music, Christina Aguilera can be considered as the wayward, too-cool-for-school kind. Aguilera would release an album, disappear for several years and comeback with an album completely different from its predecessor which can consequently either make a bold statement or end up washed in the mix. For the most part, each transition marked a certain timeline in her career. She opposed everything that was cute & formulaic with pop music back in 2002 when she released the iconic Stripped. And fast forward to 2006 when r&b and hip hop were at their prime, she decided to release a throwback album to everything 60s,70s and 80's with a Marilyn Monroe and Shirley Temple look to match. Back To Basics was a critical success and was a moderate hit compared to Stripped. Then as anyone could have predicted, she again took a hiatus before releasing a career celebrating Keeps Getting Better: A Decade of Hits and it was actually more like a questionable move for her, knowing the fact that she only has 3 albums under her belt. And at that time where pop listeners in general are more fickle than ever, many careers alighted and dimmed during her breaks and the vast landscape of pop is not as forgiving as it was before. Hence the Bionic affair happened. Bionic's high profile underperformance earned its right having a pop cult following, so infamous it can proudly join the ranks of Madonna's American Life and Mariah Carey's Glitter. Though the album finds her in her most experimental and adventurous, most part of the album seemed more like Aguilera playing catch up with the new pop queens. Thus, Lotus finds its place as an alarm for a resurgence. In comparison to her previous allbums, Lotus is her shortest and most pop-leaning record since her debut. Lyrically, it's her most impresive since Stripped, and her vocal technique is miles better than her prime in Back to Basics. And though it is not as genre bending and experimental as Bionic, it is definitely more cohesive and arguably wouldn't sound as dated as the former several years from now. For whatever its real purpose is, Lotus is her safest sounding record and it is exactly what she needs at this point of her career.

    Just like any Aguilera record, Lotus started with a dramatic intro hence I should say that this one takes the cake as the best album opener she ever did. She start things off in high speed with the anthemic Army of Me, which sounds like something Katy Perry would die to record if only Perry had the vocal chops to deliver. The first half of Lotus will give you no room to breathe. With the 1-2 punch of Red Hot Kinda Love and the future funk of Make the World Move, to the radio & club friendly bangers Your Body & Let There Be Love, Aguilera is wasting no time to showcase why she's highly regarded as The Voice of this generation, and that no one can beat her in her own pop game that many thought she abandoned earlier in her career. The middlepiece finds the soft spot of the album. Sing for Me finds her singing her heart out with lines that couldv'e been taken directly out of a Whitney song and ironically sounding like the late Whitney Houston for the most part. Blank Page is her bid to capture an Adele moment with this album and let's admit it, no one sings ballad better than Christina, not even Adele herself. Tracks like Cease Fire & Around The World ultimately proves that Aguilera is not just a singer and that she also has a penchant for details and production to complement her vocals and these Alex Da Kid produced tracks are no fillers. Whether it's the warfare of Cease Fire or the almost marching band sound of Around The World, that Aguilera swag is showing no sign of slowing down. The highlight of the album is surprisingly the genre crossing duet with country superstar Blake Shelton "Just A Fool" which is screaming to be released as a single, and has "Major Hit" written all over it. Deluxe tracks like Light Up The Sky and Empty Words are nice addition to the set. With all these being said, Lotus couldn't be more than an affirmation that Christina Aguilera is indeed a pop star after all. Streamlining her image after all the career troubles that she had in the past. It's the record that is supposed to put her safely and surely back in the map and re-introduce her to the new generation of pop listeners. She might not have the drive, the vision or the passion she once had, Lotus ultimately proves that like the flower itself, Aguilera is unbreakable and will rise after every storm and bloom ever as beautiful.    … Expand
  27. drobinson35
    Dec 12, 2013
    8
    I think the best way to start this review is to say that I personally enjoyed Christina's 2010 release 'Bionic', despite the fact it's critical and chart receptions were so-so to not good at all. I thought the Sia ballads were flawless, and the departure from Christina's norm was a nice change in my opinion. That being said, that was then and this is now... And here on 'Lotus', AguileraI think the best way to start this review is to say that I personally enjoyed Christina's 2010 release 'Bionic', despite the fact it's critical and chart receptions were so-so to not good at all. I thought the Sia ballads were flawless, and the departure from Christina's norm was a nice change in my opinion. That being said, that was then and this is now... And here on 'Lotus', Aguilera re-emerges... A much stronger force than before.

    'Lotus' isn't the pop masterpiece I hoped for... But on top 40 standards, Christina certainly delivered. There's powerhouse radio cuts like 'Let There Be Love' and 'Just a Fool', and flawless soulful takes like 'Make the World Move' and 'Sing for Me'. There's also a lot of playful cuts like 'Cease Fire' and 'Circles'. Plus, perhaps the strongest moment on 'Lotus', Sia returns on 'Blank Page'. All of these cuts remind us what a powerhouse of a vocalist Christina Aguilera really is, and her iconic status as one of the best voices of this generation. What stops this record from being a masterpiece though is it's lack of flow. Unlike Christina's mammoth releases 'Stripped' and 'Back to Basics', this album still feels Inconcise and a little all over the place sonically. That being said it's a decent step in the right direction!    … Expand
  28. Panboy1995
    Nov 11, 2021
    8
    Es un buen album, tiene letras inspiradoras, sonidos nuevos, un estilo que quizá no queda bien en Christina si se compara con otras eras, pero es parte de la reinventacion, como fan quede con ganas de más, mis favoritas son Let there be love, best of me, blank page.
  29. mrmonster
    Nov 13, 2012
    10
    A perfect album, from the sexist woman in the music business. Christina Aguilera goes above and beyond in this amazing album, with her best song ever "Your Body". Pure perfection, from one of America's hottest women. Whoever said she was fat and ugly need to get hit in the head with a brick.
  30. WarriorLotus
    Dec 2, 2012
    5
    The only problem with X is that her music shifts to different fan groups. "Christina Aguilera" was for Teen-Pop fans. Stripped was for RnB fans. Back To Basics was soul and Bionic was Electronic fans. So that leaves lotus. This is for pure pop fans. The lyrics are undeniably well thought out. Auto-tune is used for effect, not for vocal help (we only hear auto-tune on "Lotus Intro". NoThe only problem with X is that her music shifts to different fan groups. "Christina Aguilera" was for Teen-Pop fans. Stripped was for RnB fans. Back To Basics was soul and Bionic was Electronic fans. So that leaves lotus. This is for pure pop fans. The lyrics are undeniably well thought out. Auto-tune is used for effect, not for vocal help (we only hear auto-tune on "Lotus Intro". No where else!). The reason why reviews were so bad is probably towards "self-help" lyrics. But this is what it's about. She stated it was a Fighter-esque record. Now why do you guys act so surprised?
    Highlights:
    Army of Me
    Light Up the Sky
    Just a Fool
    Red Hot Kinda Love

    Lows:
    Circles
    Empty Words    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Most Discussed Album of 2012
15
#15 Most Shared Album of 2012

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
56

Mixed or average reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. Q Magazine
    Dec 11, 2012
    40
    Nothing really stands out like the best thing here, Make The World Move, featuring fellow Voice Judge, Cee-Lo Green. [Jan 2013, p.101]
  2. Exclaim
    Nov 27, 2012
    70
    This might not be the golden, triumphant comeback Aguilera had hoped for, but it's pretty close and, let's face it, it's better than most Top 40 music right now.
    Read full review
  3. Rolling Stone
    Nov 20, 2012
    50
    This vitriol-tsunami of a record misses a chance to connect Aguilera's music with her warm, empathetic TV presence.
    Read full review
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